Google Pixel 2 XL 128 GB Specifications

The days of Nexus phones are long gone. While the Nexus phones are pretty great too, Google has completely upgraded the way it manufactures smartphones. Google Pixel in 2016 paved the path for what the tech giant actually wants to offer. Launched in October 2017 along with Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL is a dream phone for every Android lover.

While the blueprint of Pixel 2 is somewhat similar to the releases last year, Pixel 2 XL has taken inspiration from iPhone X and Galaxy S8, and has a bigger display with a slimmer bezel. Bigger battery, better camera, improved processor, and latest Android OS are some of the major differences between Google Pixel and Pixel 2 XL.

Most Promising Android Handset

• Envious Design and BuildPixel 2 XL has an aluminium unibody which is now common in a lot of high-end devices. However, Google has put an additional coating on the body to offer better grip and protect the body from fingerprints. Moreover, the coating also covers the antenna bands. The volume rocker is placed ergonomically on the right with the SIM tray on the right.

It is a single SIM phone with no provision to expand storage. At the bottom, there is USB Type-C port which is the only port on the device. The major highlight of Pixel 2 XL is the missing 3.5mm jack which has been left behind in a lot of latest premium smartphones. Instead, it comes with a Type-C to 3.5mm jack adapter but no earphones. • Large and Solid DisplayPixel 2 XL measures 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9mm and has a 6-inches P-OLED (Plastic-OLED) display from LG. It has Gorilla Glass 5 on top with curved edges for protection. The 6-inches display offers an aspect ratio of 18:9 and resolution of 1440 x 2880 pixels. The impressive display specs deliver a pixel density of ~538 PPI to ensure perfect sharpness. Even the details when using the Daydream VR headset is amazing. The handset also allows you to adjust the scaling of UI and font size.

• For the ShutterbugsThe optics are the highlight of Pixel 2 XL. While the resolution sensor is same as compared to Google Pixel, the camera hardware has been improved significantly. For instance, the aperture has been upgraded to f/2.0 as compared to last year’s f/1.8. The camera now also has OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) along with EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization).

The rear camera is of 12.2MP with phase detection and laser autofocus. It also has dual-LED flash, face detection, HDR, panorama, and a host of other features. On the front, there is an 8MPshooter with a 1/3.2” sensor for great selfies in any lighting condition. The phone comes with an unlimited video and photo storage at full resolution for a limited period. When this offer runs out, you’ll still have Google Photos which offers unlimited storage of 16MP photos and 1080p videos.

Software and Performance

• ProcessorGoogle preferred sticking to 2017’s industry standard of premium smartphones with a quad-core Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset clocked in at 2.35GHz for the powerful cluster of cores and 1.9GHz for the power-efficient ones. For graphics, the phone features Adreno 540 GPU which again is standard on most premium handsets. It has 4GB RAM with internal storage of 128GB. Overall, the internals of the phone is in line with what other high-end devices of 2017 offer. The phone is very smooth, and multitasking is a breeze.

• Operating SystemThe software is the strength of Google. Out-of-the-box, Pixel 2 XL runs on standard Android Oreo with a few changes to the lock screen, home screen, and launcher. With its P-OLED display, the phone has an always-on feature with the date, time and unread notifications always available.

Android 8.1 is already on its way to Pixel 2 XL with which Google is launching its very own in-house processor which the company has developed along with Intel. Known as Visual Core, it is an image processor with the help of which the 3rd party apps would be able to use the HDR+ technology of the phone which can only be used by the Pixel camera app currently.

• Other Important Specs and FeaturesPixel 2 XL is powered by Li-Ion non-removable 3,520mAh battery which is pretty good for powering a 6-inches device. Unlike a lot of high-end devices which come with fast or quick charging, Pixel 2 XL comes with Power Delivery 2.0, a technology which ensures that the device charges at a consistent speed. The phone comes with Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, DLNA, and NFC. Sensors include fingerprint, gyro, accelerometer, barometer, compass, and proximity.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Great camera- The 12.2MP rear camera and 8MP front shooter have been significantly improved in Pixel 2 XL. Along with the latest HDR+ technology, the cameras are able to offer much better results as compared to a lot of other high-end devices.

• P-OLED display- The Plastic-OLED display with the bigger aspect ratio is definitely a treat to the eyes. The viewing angles are amazing, colors are vivid, and the brightness is just perfect in any lighting condition.

• Improved Google Assist- The large user base of Google has significantly helped its AI Google Assistant. Right from playing YouTube videos or taking pictures, you can do all of it through voice commands.

• Latest Android with guaranteed updates- Pixel 2 XL runs on Android Oreo, the latest Android OS right out-of-the-box. Moreover, the company guarantees all the latest updates to Pixel 2 XL for the next three years.

• Google Lens- This is surely one of the most amazing features of Pixel 2 XL. With this, you can scan any item, and the phone will find information about it. Movie posters, pictures of celebrities, or food, you can scan and find a lot of information with this feature.

Cons

• No headphone jack- The missing 3.5mm jack on the phone is the biggest con. The phone comes with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter, and no earphones are included in the box.

• No wireless charging- Many of the premium handsets like the latest iPhone or Galaxy Note 8 support wireless charging, however, Pixel 2 XL doesn’t.

• No SD card slot- The phone is available in two storage variants- 64GB and 128GB, but there is no SD card slot. However, it does offer unlimited photos and videos storage.

• No optical zooming- Most of the smartphones, even the cheaper ones, now offer optical zoom. This feature too is missing in Pixel 2 XL.

• Single SIM- With most phones now being dual SIM with an additional slot for SD card, Pixel 2 XL is a single SIM phone.